I am heading to Florida in a few days, a friend has asked me to take his fathers H-D down with me......my enclosed trailer is full of bikes already so I will haul this one in the truck bed.......
Anyone had failures of the tie downs? How strong are they? I use ratchet straps to hold bikes down. I have never used the tie downs so I am asking? Better safe than sorry.
Thanks

 

I'm also interested in this as well! The boat cleat style tie down points looked handy, but didn't look that strong.

Curious, how well does a bike fit into the SB with the trailer also in tow? Don't you need the tailgate down to fit the bike?

 

I use my tie downs on a regular basis and so far so good. Must admit that I never have tested them with a super heavy strain but what I have put on them there is no sign of anything looking like it is getting weak. I would suggest that for a heavy load that you place the rope or whatever between the two screws.
What I do need is some extra tiedowns but do not want to use the aftermarket ones that go outside the box. Any suggestions_

 

I've hauled a Harley and a Buell Thunderbolt (not at the same time) in mine. How much strain you put on your tiedown points varied by how tightly you pull the bike down with your ratchets. You don't need to pull 'em down until the suspension bottoms out.

I think I read the tiedown points are rated for 1,000 pounds. The ones in my 98.5 in the floor (front) looked stronger than the new ones. No problems so far.

Do you have a bike rail to put in your bed? If not, how will you keep the wheels from moving? I hauled my Buell in the bed and mine and wife's Harleys on a 6 X 12 foot landscape trailer with no problem other than people staring as they went by. You do have to leave the tailgate down. Whether you have problems will depend on your trailer configuration. Check for clearance with your wheel jack. If your trailer is enclosed, you will have to watch your angles when backing. Don't want to bang up your tailgate on your trailer front. YMMV. JOIBO!

 

I've been hauling bikes to Daytona for over 25 years without a problem.........yeah tailgate down or off...I'll put it in the trailer....I am just not sure of how strong the cleats are?
Bike goes straight in box, front wheel against front of box, then a ratchet strap from the bars to each front cleat, crank down aginst the fork suspension, you want it down pretty darn good........and two ratchets to each back cleat, have some one hump down on the seat to help squash rear suspension and crank them down! Won't move.
PS Don't use cheap straps..........I always use a second set on the front, with just enough tension to hold in case a strap breaks.

 

I've been trailering Harleys a good while myself. I disagree with you about one item you mentioned. I DO NOT tie down on the handlebars. As you know, Harleys have rubber mounted bars. I've replaced more than one set of riser bushings ruined because of tiedowns on handlebars. Instead, I put my tiedowns on the triple trees on FX type bikes and some FLs. On my '99 Roadglide, I have to tiedown on the highway bar. Just no way to get a straight pull on the triple tree or front frame. I always use soft loops around the bike parts. Make 'em myself out of old seat belt material. Double loop around, then the tiedown hook through the loops, then down to cleats, 'D' rings or whatever. I agree with you about multiple tiedowns. I always use four fronts, two rears. And American made.

THis is a great source for good tiedowns at a reasonable price.

http://www.snappinturtle.com/

Don't ever use that China made crap!

But, all this said, if you want to tie down your bikes on the bars, they are your bikes, so do what you like. JOIBO!

 

Your right about the handelbars...don't know why I used that example?...I also use soft hands to hook to the trees or on rear frames......
I may head down towards the Keys sometime over the winter......I went to Key West about 3-4 years ago...nice trip.
A friend that lived here moved to the keys.....used to be head of maintanance at a KOA I think........I think on Big Pine? Don't remember?

 

Sounds like the common theme here is trailering HDs

Those things are supposed to be meant to be ridden. If you guys would buy a bike with the" V" in right you could ride them on long trips instead of dragging them.

 

Hmm...I'm not sure it's just the engine config. I've got a flat twin, we've seen a lot of nice long trips. But there are times when I'd like to take the bike places when it's snowing here. The other option is to keep my better 1/2 happy and still be able to get away on the bike. Being able to haul the bike AND trailer the boat....I'd never need to come home.

 

I've had a flat twin a couple of times. Seems like it's always on the rear. The hardest to change. Oh, you mean your ENGINE is a flat twin? LOL!

Realisticly, trailering is a fact of life. People who live up north who want to get away in the winter (and who doesn't?) need to trailer to where it's warm enough to ride. ALL brands of bikes break down and need to be trailered for repair.

The thread started out asking about the strength of the tiedown cleats. Sort of has digressed from that question.

 

Well there guzzirider
When I left for Florida last year at 3 AM it was minus 22*F.....and 1250 miles....and a four month stay.......I wasn't going around the block for Spagetttt and meatballs.....so if you think you want to ride that Itailian Stallion have at it. I've been riding for over 40 years.....can ya match that ?

 

You win Hairy1, I thought I was the only bonehead to head off to work when its 30 out and the roads are iced, nothin like flat trackin on a 700lb wide glide.
Make sure you get good tie downs, some of the hardware store ones seem to have to small of hook to fit handlebars if you go that route. Bike shops will sell good heavy duty ones for not much more.
Have fun!!!!
Apache

 

Hairy You got me on the time. I've been riding legally for going on 30, plus a few more before that.
Three Wyoming winters with only 2 wheel transportation and as many trips from there to the East coast and back. 10 more years and I'lll get yeah
keep riding

 

Keep Riding Safe